The Life of Jefferson DavisAlfriend, Frank H. (Frank Heath)
History
The Life of Jefferson Davis
Alfriend, Frank H. (Frank Heath)
Confederate States of America; Davis, Jefferson, 1808-1889; United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865
"The regiment was formed again in line of battle behind the first
ravine we had crossed; soon after which we were joined upon our left
by Lieutenant Kilbourn, with a piece of light artillery, and Colonel
Lane's (the Third) regiment of Indiana volunteers.... We had proceeded
but a short distance when I saw a large body of cavalry debouche from
his cover upon the left of the position from which we had retired, and
advance rapidly upon us. The Mississippi regiment was filed to the
right, and fronted in line across the plain; the Indiana regiment was
formed on the bank of the ravine, in advance of our right flank, by
which a reëntering angle was presented to the enemy. Whilst this
preparation was being made, Sergeant-Major Miller, of our regiment,
was sent to Captain Sherman for one or more pieces of artillery from
his battery.
"The enemy, who was now seen to be a body of richly-caparisoned
lancers, came forward rapidly, and in beautiful order--the files and
ranks so closed as to look like a mass of men and horses. Perfect
silence and the greatest steadiness prevailed in both lines of our
troops, as they stood at shouldered arms waiting an attack. Confident
of success, and anxious to obtain the full advantage of a cross-fire
at a short distance, I repeatedly called to the men not to shoot.
"As the enemy approached, his speed regularly diminished, until, when,
within eighty or a hundred yards, he had drawn up to a walk, and
seemed about to halt. A few files fired without orders, and both lines
then instantly poured in a volley so destructive that the mass yielded
to the blow and the survivors fled.... At this time, the enemy made
his last attack upon the right, and I received the General's order to
march to that portion of the field. The broken character of the
intervening ground concealed the scene of action from our view; but
the heavy firing of musketry formed a sufficient guide for our course.
After marching two or three hundred yards, we saw the enemy's infantry
advancing in three lines upon Captain Bragg's battery; which, though
entirely unsupported, resolutely held its position, and met the attack
with a fire worthy the former achievements of that battery, and of the
reputation of its present meritorious commander. We pressed on,
climbed the rocky slope of the plain on which this combat occurred,
reached its brow so as to take the enemy in flank and reverse when he
was about one hundred yards from the battery. Our first fire--raking
each of his lines, and opened close upon his flank--was eminently
destructive. His right gave way, and he fled in confusion.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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